One of the great joys I have as pastor is to teach the sacred Scriptures each week to my congregation. I spend hours praying and studying, hoping that the message on Sunday encourages the saints, convinces the cynic and calls the prodigals home. For the past nine years I’ve preached at the 9am service, lingered to pray for people after the service, and then gone to my office to refuel for 20 minutes. At 11am, I have preached the message again, followed by an hour or so of praying for individual members and greeting lots of guests. It is a full, but really rewarding day.
This Sunday, I made a necessary change. I will still preach at either the 9am or 11am service, but not to both services. It’s not easy to ask for help, but the elders of our church agree with me that I can’t continue my “normal” routine for two really good reasons.
1. My health needs some attention right now. After three major heart surgeries the past 49 years and two corrective procedures in the past nine months, I need to adjust my pace. I simply do not have the same energy levels as I did ten years ago, and my doctors have told me explicitly to limit my stress. Our bodies require a great deal of adrenaline to preach well and then it needs time to recover. I need to listen to my doctors and my body right now, so I must modify my Sunday schedule. I believe these changes will enable me to actually preach more sermons at New Life, long term. Burnout is simply not an option for me.
2. The church needs to hear many voices, not just mine. I’m still responsible for the pulpit at New Life, but God has given us some really gifted and humble communicators who love our congregations as much as me. They study with me each week and we usually preach from the same text each weekend. They have different perspectives and stories, but they’re solid bible teachers who I trust completely. If I’m not at one of the services, it means I’m preaching at the other.
When I’m absent, Glenn Packiam or Daniel Grothe will primarily teach in my spot. Glenn is the pastor of New Life Downtown and Daniel leads our Friday night congregation and together, we’ll now comprise the senior teaching team. They will continue to lead those congregations in our city while helping me by teaching more at New Life North. This creates additional opportunities at all our locations for us to hear more often from some trusted guests and the other great teachers on our team.
These small changes will allow me to hang around a lot longer with adequate strength to finish the race. I’ve also adjusted my weekday work calendar, so my primary energies can be spent where most needed. I’ll still lead the staff each week and oversee all the ministries at New Life, including the amazing work happening in our city through the Dream Centers. I’m getting good healthcare and feel really confident that my health is sustainable and will actually improve. Thanks so much for your prayers and kindness. Great days are ahead for the church that we call home.
October 8, 2016 at 1:45 pm
Brady,
Ken and I are holding you close in prayer, and we are both in awe of the wisdom and heart from which you lead. Thank you for letting the Holy Spirit lead the dance of your life. Deep blessings,
Sallie Ross
October 8, 2016 at 2:05 pm
Thank you for the kind words and prayers. Blessings!
October 31, 2016 at 7:13 pm
I think what your church do for the community is Great. I have only one pproblem I wish to express my concern. A few months ago I spoke with someone at your church about homeless parking at your church parking lot and was told you do not allow this. Some big cities have spaces in concern areas for people who live in their cars because of what ever hardship that has affected their lives. I know you have connection to a shelter,but some people do not want to go to a shelter,and most shelter or for family not a single person. The person I was asking about the parking for is a woman who has a job,but because of situations that happen in her life,(divorce,bankruptcy,) she can’t a this time afford a place to live. She wants to save what she makes, and living in a hotel is to expense. She would only needs to park at night some where safe, she works part time. Why doesn’t the church offer even a small areas of homeless parking with guidelines to the people who use it. I thank this should be part of helping the community, and doing the work of Christ at the same time, by helping those of us in need,and maybe ministering the Good News of the gospel along the way. Let’s think out side the box. There different ways of reaching out to people. Thank for your time and GOD BLESS. (Public Parks do not allow over night Parking)
October 31, 2016 at 8:51 pm
Thanks for the concern. I will check into this and find out why it happened.
November 21, 2016 at 7:38 pm
Loved the sermon by John Bevere on Holiness, totally touched my life, thank you so much for what you do there.
November 23, 2016 at 9:21 am
Dear Rev.Brady Boyd, greetings from india, what a thrilling sermon u posted in sermon central on Holyspirit is life, thank u so much , not exaggerating when i just reading the sermon spirit of God came upon me , so i preached last sunday this same message to my congregation of nearly 1000 new converts all were inspired and blessed, thank u sir, we welcome you to our city in south india, where we have monthly pastors fellowship , youth meeting and orpanage programme, pls reply pls visit us
God bless you
PAULJESUDOSS
00919944334299
March 2, 2017 at 4:25 am
I am a 15 year old boy that goes to your church, and I have a few song requests. If these songs don’t work out then it’s fine but I just wanted to request them anyways.
Songs:
Do what you want to
Unstoppable God
This is living
His kind of love
He said
God’s not dead
March 2, 2017 at 2:18 pm
These are great songs!
November 6, 2017 at 5:50 pm
Thank you for the wonderful message on mental health yesterday. I thought it was just me struggling with these things, I had no idea it was every one in five people. I don’t feel quite so alone and ashamed now. One thing, could you please post the resources you mentioned yesterday? I seemed to have lost my notes, thanks!
February 24, 2018 at 3:06 pm
Brady
Awesome message at PK All In, I can see you sliding into Heaven like placing the puck in the net and meeting the Holy Spirit face to face.
As a consummate risk taker, love your message brother. Want to see more Holy Spirit input, guiding and coaching in my life.
Very encouraging.
love the Colorado Springs, Denver and Golden area.
April 24, 2018 at 8:04 pm
Hi, I’m a Director of Children’s Ministries in a small town in Alabama. And I am burdened by hearing from so many young families in our church of the busyness of life weighing them down.
As I awoke this morning. I had a new burden for God to use me in a way to love on these families about this suffocating problem. But where to begin… God led me your way… I know if I suggest a book to read -well- that would be met by – “wish I had to time to read!” Anyway.. do you have a small tract that would wet their appetite to search more? Thank you!
April 28, 2018 at 11:52 pm
Thank you for your words of wisdom when reading the scriptures and helping me to understand them. It really helps when you explain them the way you do. Also adding a little humor I never get bored. I started going to New Life about a year ago and I love going there and wanted to tell you thank you thank you!
October 30, 2018 at 2:21 pm
Brady:
I understand that you will be in Canada in a few weeks.
Will you be ministering at several places while in Canada?
November 7, 2018 at 3:20 pm
Yes. I will be in Toronto at a Promise Keeper’s event on Saturday, November 17